Montgomery – Fifty-three students have each been awarded a $3,600 scholarship to study in automotive manufacturing programs at Alabama’s community colleges. The scholarships, along with a mentorship program led by seasoned automotive manufacturing professionals, were provided through the combined efforts of the Alabama Automotive Manufacturers Association and the Alabama Community College System to help fill more than 10,000 automotive manufacturing jobs in Alabama within two years.

The following students have been awarded scholarships to pursue a technical education certificate or associate degree at the following institutions:

Mario Addison, Industrial Electronics Technology at Lawson State Community College

Jabe Anderson, Advanced Manufacturing at Calhoun Community College

Darise Andrews, Industrial Maintenance at J. F. Drake State Community & Technical College

Luis Ascencio-Mendoza, Manufacturing Technology at Calhoun Community College

Bill Bailey, Manufacturing Technology/FAME at Northwest-Shoals Community College

Clark Brand, Automotive Service Technology at Calhoun Community College

Lee Brooks, Engineering Technology at Lawson State Community College

Austin Burgess, Industrial Maintenance/FAME at Northwest-Shoals Community College

Joseph Butler, Industrial Maintenance/FAME at Northwest-Shoals Community College

Mathew Campbell, Advanced Manufacturing/FAME at Calhoun Community College

Steven Cash, Machine Shop/Tool Technology at Shelton State Community College

Deondra Cooper, Advanced Manufacturing at J. F. Drake State Community & Technical College

Jack Crowley, Advanced Manufacturing at J. F. Drake State Community & Technical College

Andrew Davis, Advanced Manufacturing at Calhoun Community College

Cade Davis, Machine Shop/Tool Technology at Shelton State Community College

Alize Dobson, Manufacturing Technology at Calhoun Community College

Charles Dunn, Automated Manufacturing at Calhoun Community College

Hayden Eddings, Engineering Technology at Wallace State Community College – Hanceville

Connor Furber, Welding Technology at Calhoun Community College

James Harris, Industrial Maintenance Technology at Calhoun Community College

Daisy Head, Manufacturing Technology/Technician at Shelton State Community College

Melissa Hearon, Advanced Manufacturing at Calhoun Community College

Aziza Hurt, Mechatronics at Southern Union State Community College

Lucas Isbell, Industrial Maintenance Technology at Northwest-Shoals Community College

William Johnson, Machine Shop/Tool Technology at Shelton State Community College

Ethan Johnson, Automotive Service Technology at Lawson State Community College

Christian Jones, Automotive Service Technology at J. F. Drake State Community & Technical College

Michael Key, Industrial Maintenance Technology at Calhoun Community College

Dominic Lane, Manufacturing Technology/FAME at Northwest-Shoals Community College

Milton Leal Blas, Industrial Maintenance Technology at Calhoun Community College

Jay McElwain, Industrial Maintenance Technology at Calhoun Community College

Nathan McKee, Mechatronics at Wallace State Community College – Hanceville

Jerry Miller, Machine Shop/Tool Technology at Central Alabama Community College

Harris Mitchell, Manufacturing Technology/Technician at Shelton State Community College

Alex Munoz, Mechatronics at Wallace State Community College – Hanceville

Isaac Newell, Welding Technology at Bevill State Community College

Lyndon O’Dell, Industrial Maintenance Technology at Calhoun Community College

Portia Orr, Engineering Technology at Drake State Community & Technical College

Lori Peden, Industrial Maintenance Technology at Northwest-Shoals Community College

Daniel Pliego, Engineering Graphics at Wallace Community College – Dothan

Andrew Poe, Machine Shop/Tool Technology at Bevill State Community College

Evan Prater, Advanced Manufacturing/FAME at Calhoun Community College

Kaleb Prestage, Industrial Maintenance/FAME at Northwest-Shoals Community College

Andrew Rittman, Industrial Maintenance Technology at Calhoun Community College

Chamberlain Schwarz, Welding Technology at Wallace Community College – Dothan

Alexander Sharp, Industrial Electronics Technology at Shelton State Community College

Anthony Smith, Mechatronics at Southern Union State Community College

Edgar Soriano, Automotive Service Technology at Lawson State Community College

Edward Stanford, Welding Technology at J. F. Drake State Community & Technical College

Hayden Tidwell, Industrial Maintenance Technology at Bevill State Community College

Delroy Tulloch, Advanced Manufacturing at Calhoun Community College

Anna Warner, Engineering Technology at Northwest-Shoals Community College

Adam Winter, Automotive Service Technology at Trenholm State Community College

Each student was required to have at least a 2.5 GPA and to submit an essay on why he or she wants to work in Alabama’s automotive industry. Along with a transcript, each student also submitted a reference letter.

ACCS has community colleges in every region of the state that offer one or more automotive programs.

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About AAMA

Since 2001, the Alabama Automotive Manufacturers Association (AAMA) has provided awareness of manufacturing trends, techniques, and concerns within the automotive manufacturing industry through interaction among automotive companies in Alabama. The association’s mission is to promote growth and continuous improvement of automotive manufacturing in Alabama.

About ACCS

With 24 community colleges in more than 130 locations, the Alabama Community College System (ACCS) is Alabama’s gateway to first-class, affordable education and technical training to compete in a constantly evolving workforce. More than 168,000 Alabamians benefit from the various certification, credential, dual enrollment and degree programs ACCS offers alongside leading industry partners. The System includes the Alabama Technology Network, which provides extensive training and service offerings directly to business and industry. ACCS is governed by the Alabama Community College System Board of Trustees.